Case's House Appropriations Committee Moves Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Bills To Provide Another $1.1 Billion to Respond to the Red Hill Crisis

Case Requested the Funds, In Addition to $1.1 Billion Already Appropriated for Current Fiscal Year 2022, to Further Remediate, Defuel and Close Red Hill and Move the Fuel to More Strategic Locations Elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific

News Release from Congressman Ed Case, Washington, DC, June 15, 2022

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations is advancing two bills that would provide an additional $1.1 billion to respond to the Red Hill crisis.

These two bills are part of the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, which commences on October 1, 2022.

“As a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of our Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, I am fully committed to ensuring the funding for our federal government to implement its commitment to fully remediate the consequences of the Red Hill fuel leakage, and defuel and close the facility as safely and quickly as possible,” said Case. “I am also focused on fully funding our continued reserve fuel requirements in the Indo-Pacific through alternatives to Red Hill.”

Case requested the additional funding in the federal appropriations measures for Fiscal Year 2023, which commences October 1st of this year. These measures are first drafted, debated and passed in Case’s House Appropriations Committee. The Committee is now introducing its specific proposed measures.    

In response to Cases’ requests, the Department of Defense Appropriations bill includes $1 billion to conduct activities to comply with the State of Hawaii’s health order related to infrastructure improvements and the defueling of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill includes $100 million for planning and design of water treatment and distribution facilities construction, including those relating to improvements of infrastructure, aquifer remediation and defueling operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

The FY 2023 bills will be considered in Appropriations subcommittees beginning today and by the full U.S. House Committee on Appropriations later this month, and the full House is expected to vote on the bills in July. The $1.1 billion proposed for FY 2023 comes on top of $1.1 billion secured by the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation for FY 2022.

The text of the Department of Defense funding bill is available here.

The text of the military construction funding bill is available here.

  *   *   *   *   *

U.S. CONGRESSMEN KAHELE AND CASE TO HOLD RED HILL TOWN HALL ON FY23 NDAA AND HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS

Press Release, June 14, 2022

HONOLULU, HI – U.S. Congressmen Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02) and Ed Case (HI-01) will hold a joint town hall on Monday, June 20, 2022 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm HST to discuss the current status of Red Hill and provisions in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and House Appropriations bills. Joining them to present and answer questions will be Ernie Lau, Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

The town hall will also be viewable online via Facebook Live

WHAT:      Red Hill Town Hall

WHO: U.S. Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02)

U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01)

Ernie Lau, Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply

WHEN: Monday, June 20, 2022, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm HST

WHERE:    Moanalua High School Performing Arts Center

2825 Ala Ilima St, Honolulu, HI 96818

Congressman Kahele sits on the House Armed Services Committee which has direct oversight over the annual NDAA. Congressman Case sits on the House Appropriations Committee which is responsible for the annual Appropriations bills. 

---30--- 

CS: Congress considering more money for Red Hill clean up